-the word that speaks to our spirits-

Jill Jessen

I was six years old when I realized I had a lisp. Do you remember that childhood chant “She sells seashells down by the seashore”? I was challenged to say it fives times fast. That didn’t turn out so well for me. Thankfully, my mild speech impediment improved with time. I learned to speak slowly … Continue reading Prayer

“Mama, will you help me practice my verse for graduation?” I had just picked up my youngest daughter from preschool, and she was excited about her upcoming ceremony. Her class had spent time rehearsing that day and she was eager to tell me all about it. When I read the communication binder from her teacher, … Continue reading Pursuit

Can you recall a particular time in your life when you felt the heavy weight of dread, but didn’t know why? I’m not talking about superstitions. I’m referring to a time when you felt like God was about to do something big in your life and you weren’t sure you were going to like it. … Continue reading When God Showed Up

“What a sweet gift!” my friend exclaimed as I told her about the last weeks we spent with my dad before he died. Her comment surprised me. I hadn’t considered his illness as a gift. I remembered it only as a season of sadness for my family. I also felt like God hadn’t heard our … Continue reading Remember the Ebenezer Stone

Wow! I never thought that it would be so hard to express my feelings about being a woman. The time I’ve spent thinking and procrastinating about this topic is ridiculous, but it has been necessary. Praying God would give me the right words, and frustrated that they never came, I realized the story has been … Continue reading What I Love About Being a Woman

﻿“That's a fire hazard!” my son said as I snapped a twig off the tree and watched needles scatter to the floor. The Christmas tree was so fragrant and beautiful when it was purchased on the first of December, but on January 15th it was brittle and dead. I was still recovering from the flu, … Continue reading Drawing Close To God

THE WISDOM IN SEEKING GOD FIRST When my children were young, I dreamed of taking them to the "happiest place on earth" - Disney world. They grew up watching the Disney movies and I'd heard magical stories about the parks, but after doing a little research I was disappointed to learn that the cost of … Continue reading I am Wise